Sunday, September 5, 2010

A Way to Stop Fighting

We woke up to screaming. All week, we've been listening to our daughters work out their conflicts. Lately, they've been fighting over everything: Whose turn? Whose portion? Whose toy?

In church this morning, I asked another mother how she handles sibling fighting. Her answer surprised me.

She said to teach my children that they aren't special.

Is this mother American? Has she been in a coma? Aren't I supposed to be training my children to believe in their absolute specialness? Aren't I supposed to be telling my little girls how wonderful, how amazing, how special, special, special they are? Of course they deserve that turn, that portion, that toy. I've trained them to expect nothing less.

I think I've been raising narcissists. Something's gotta change.

That mom told me to ask one sister if her other sister were any less special than she.

So I did. Without that sense of "I'm uniquely special," it was hard to justify who deserved that turn, that portion, that toy.

Who is more special? Me or you?

As I'm worshiping God in church this morning, I think about what causes so much distress in my own heart. So many of my own internal and external conflicts arise out of a sense of entitlement. I'm so special, God, so don't I deserve this thing? I'm so special, God, aren't you going to do this wonderful thing in my life? It's my turn, God. It's time for my portion.

The problem isn't that I'm not special. I am. The problem is that you are too--just as much--and I don't see it. If I did, I wouldn't fight for my personal story, my turn, my portion, and my toy. I'd see you as equally deserving of every opportunity and every bit of joy.

It was a sobering thought for someone like me--a recovering narcissist of sorts. I looked around the sanctuary at hundreds of folks on their own spiritual journey. Might I give up my turn, my portion, and my toy for them? Might I reengage with people, recognizing a profound sense of how special they are?

Selfishness might stem from an exaggerated sense of my own specialness.

Are others special enough (as special as I am?) that I might defer to them, sacrifice for them, and lose my place in line? Living with flair means admitting (though it's painful!) that I am not more special. That's one way I can love others better, even when they get the biggest portion and the best toy.

8 comments:

Just discovered your blog a couple of days ago and have loved the way you have already challenged me. This post is exactly what the Lord has had me looking at myself about. (Funny, looking at myself about looking at myself.) Thanks for speaking with flair!

Hi, I've been coming here for a while, enjoying but not commenting...this one really got me thinking. The first part was eye-opening enough, an alternative to the parenting fads of the day. But the second part...about looking at that same narcissism within ourselves...wow, life-changing!

Hi, I've been coming here for a while, enjoying but not commenting...this one really got me thinking. The first part was eye-opening enough, an alternative to the parenting fads of the day. But the second part...about looking at that same narcissism within ourselves...wow, life-changing!

Sacrificing what I want for what my husband wants? What a revolutionary concept for this day and age! **wink**All sarcasm aside, your reminder comes at a perfect time for me. It's something I need to apply every day of my married life. It results in less conflict and more peace and joy.

About Me

In my writing classes, we talk about writing with flair, but lately I've been interested in what it means to live with flair. Can I find a way to make every day impressive and meaningful? Just as a sentence turns into something beautiful with the right verb and punctuation, can I learn to revise my day and punctuate it with flair?

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More about me. . .

I'm a wife and mother of two who teaches college writing. I love writing novels, encouraging teachers, reflecting on spiritual principles in everyday life, drinking tea out of my little blue teapot, petting my cats, exercising, lighting candles, reading grammar books, watching movies and any television show with singing and dancing in it, entertaining, eating leftover Chinese food, and blogging. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.